About the project
Research thus far has indicated that the concept of poverty is well-covered by already existing human rights legal obligations at the domestic level, meaning that the use of the word 'poverty' as a human rights violation is redundant at the domestic level because the individual elements of poverty (food, shelter, work, education, participation, etc.) are undoubtedly human rights violations by a state. This is the case whether a state has failed to eradicate the elements of poverty (a failure of protect and fulfilling) or has caused poverty itself (a failure to respect).
On the other hand, the concept of poverty as a human rights legal obligation is value-added at the international level. While it may be settled law that states have numerous obligations domestically, obligations across borders to people in other countries remains disputed. By conceptualizing a global freedom from poverty, it does seem likely that existing legal norms protect all individuals in all countries from actions and policies by any country that may create poverty, even as a side effect to actions with another purpose.
The Ph.D. dissertation analyzes these issues in detail from a legal perspective, while also drawing explanatory parallels to ethical obligations and the relationship between law and ethics.
Kommentator er professor Geir Ulfstein, Institutt for offentlig rett.
Hovedveileder er professor Ole Kristian Fauchald, Institutt for offentlig rett.
Møteleder er førsteamanuensis Jan Helgesen, Norsk senter for menneskerettigheter.